Collapsible enclosed boat



1945- e. P|ovENzANo 2,391,594

COLLAPSIBLE ENCLOSED BOAT Filed Nov. 4; 1943 INVENTOR.' I @745 m/vo PROVENZ/INO.

Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE ENCLOSED BOAT Gaetano Provenzano, New York, N. Y. Application November 4, i943, Serial No. 508,883

1 Claim.

This invention relates to boats, and more particularly to boats of small size, adapted for use by a single person.

It is an object of the invention to provide a boat capable of being compactly folded for storage in which condition it occupies an inconsidera'ole space, and is instantl ready for service by a single simple movement of an operative.

Another purpose is to produce a boat suited for a single person, who may propel the boat from the inside, actuate a lighting means or audible signal, and which may be provided with a store of food, water, etc. a seat and oars for navigation,

These objects, advantageous to shipwrecked, marooned and imperilled persons, are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, constituting a component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention with the cover removed.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the boat frame, showing in broken line the seat and supply container.

Figure 3 is a side view of the complete assembly.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial plan view of the bottom of the boat showing the foldable levers in a retracted position.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the numeral l5 designates the keel of the boat, preferably made of wood by reason of its lightness and strength, the keel being upturned at each end as at l 6.

A pivot [1, set midway in the length of the keel, connects a cross bar l8 having upturned ends 19, on which are row locks 20; also pivoted to the cross bar, as at 2|, are longitudinal bars 22 and 23, their ends being pivoted, as at 24, to shorter cross bars 25 having upturned ends 26.

Intermediate cross bars 21 are pivoted to the bars 22, the same having upturned ends 28.

All these several bars constitute in efiect a lazy tong device by which they may be spread apart as in Figure 1, or closel folded as in Figure 5.

The cross rib 25 at one end of the boat, is pivotally connected with a two piece link or locking lever set 30, the separate members of which are pivotally connected to each other by the Joint 32, and the forward end of this lever set is pivotally connected at 34 with the end of the keel Hi. The cross rib 25 at the other end of the boat is pivotally connected to a two piece link or lever set 29, the adjacent ends being (pivotally conected to each other by the pivot joint 3!, and the outer end of the lever set being pivotally connected with the keel at 33. When these lever or link sets are opened to the positions shown in Fig. 1, the cross ribs will be held against movement and the boat will not collapse.

The longitudinal bars 22 and 23 are always parallel to the keel, whether in their open or folded positions. In their open positions these bars provide a bottom for the collapsible boat, to receive the thrust and wear of the passenger's feet, and to prevent bulging of the bottom when the passenger stands erect in the boat.

A waterproof covering 35 is disposed below the keel I5, along the sides and over the top, the same being held in expanded condition by the lazy tong device, or collapsed therewith.

Oars 36 may be extended outwardly of the oar locks 20, the openings being closed when withdrawn by flexible gaskets 31.

A central opening 38 in the top of the covering is supplied with a closure member 39, arranged to be tightened around the neck or waist of a person by strings 40.

A lighting device 4] extending upwardly above the cover 35, is arranged for actuation by a hand crank 42 accessible from within the boat.

A seat 43 and food supply chest 44, shown in broken lines in Figure 2, complete the structure.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of its construction anduse, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A collapsing boat consisting of a keel, a plurality of U-shaped cross ribs pivoted centrally to the keel in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, a bar pivoted to all of the cross ribs on each side of the keel and extending a major part of the boat to protect the bottom of the boat, each bar being arranged in parallel relation to the keel, a two piece linkage pivotally connected to one endmost cross rib and to the keel at one end of the boat, a similar two piece linkage pivotally connected to the other endmost cross rib and pivotally connected to the keel, whereby the cross ribs will be locked in open position, and a fabric covering connected to the cross ribs and keel.

GAETANO PROVENZANO. 

